Rockin' Rudolph
{{for|the 1963 Doo-Wop song|The Uniques (Louisiana band)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Rockin' Rudolph
| type = studio
| artist = The Brian Setzer Orchestra
| cover = Rockinrudolph.jpg
| alt =
| released = October 16, 2015
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
| length =33:53
| label = Surfdog
| producer = Peter Collins
| prev_title = Don't Mess with a Big Band (Live!)
| prev_year = 2010
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Rockin' Rudolph
| type = studio
| single1 = Yabba-Dabba Yuletide
| single1date = October 2, 2015{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Yabba-Dabba-Yuletide/dp/B0144NT2VQ|title=Yabba-Dabba Yuletide: Brian Setzer: MP3 Downloads|asin=B0144NT2VQ|accessdate=October 2, 2015}}
}}
}}
Rockin' Rudolph is the third Christmas album by The Brian Setzer Orchestra, released on October 16, 2015, through Surfdog Records. Produced by Peter Collins, it is the band's first Christmas album in ten years and their most recent album to date.{{cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/brian-setzer-rockin-rudolph/|title=Brian Setzer Announces First Christmas Album in a Decade|last=DeRiso|first=Nick|work=Ultimate Classic Rock|publisher=Townsquare Media|date=August 2, 2015|accessdate=August 7, 2015}}
Promotion
In support of the album, The Brian Setzer Orchestra embarked on the 12th Annual Christmas Rocks! Tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.guitarworld.com/brian-setzer-announces-rockin-rudolph-christmas-album-video/25106|title=Brian Setzer Announces 'Rockin' Rudolph' Christmas Album|work=Guitar World|publisher=Harris Publications|date=July 28, 2015|accessdate=August 7, 2015}} In the midst of the tour they performed at an invitation-only event for SiriusXM at The Hard Rock Café in Times Square. The concert was broadcast across SiriusXM channels in the days that followed.{{cite web|url=http://blog.siriusxm.com/2015/11/20/christmas-rocks-the-brian-setzer-orchestra-to-performs-on-outlaw-country-and-holly/|title=Christmas Rocks: The Brian Setzer Orchestra to perform on Outlaw Country and Holly|publisher=SiriusXM|date=November 20, 2015|accessdate=December 1, 2015}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/rockin-rudolph-mw0002874135|title=Rockin' Rudolph - The Brian Setzer Orchestra — Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards|accessdate=October 19, 2015|author=Erlewine, Stephen Thomas|authorlink=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|publisher=All Media Network|work=AllMusic}}
}}
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic rated the album three out of five stars and states: "Rockin' Rudolph deserves to sit proudly alongside the Brian Setzer Orchestra's other Christmas albums because it serves up snazzy seasonal swingers, tunes that revel in their retro-kitsch."
Track listing
{{track listing
| headline = Rockin' Rudolph track listing
| title1 = Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
| writer1 = Johnny Marks
| length1 = 2:31
| title2 = Yabba-Dabba Yuletide
| writer2 = Joseph Barbera, William Hanna, Hoyt Curtin
| length2 = 2:01
| title3 = Most Wonderful Time of the Year
| writer3 = Edward Pola, George Wyle
| length3 = 2:11
| title4 = Rockabilly Rudolph
| writer4 = Marks
| length4 = 2:51
| title5 = Here Comes Santa Claus
| writer5 = Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman
| length5 = 4:17
| title6 = Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
| writer6 = Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
| length6 = 3:29
| title7 = Swingin' Joy
| writer7 = Traditional
| length7 = 2:20
| title8 = Carol of the Bells
| writer8 = Mykola Leontovych, Peter Wilhousky
| length8 = 2:23
| title9 = Little Jack Frost
| writer9 = Al Stillman, Seger Ellis
| length9 = 2:53
| title10 = Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
| writer10 = Charles Wesley
| length10 = 2:26
| title11 = O Little Town of Bethlehem
| writer11 = Phillips Brooks
| length11 = 2:51
| title12 = Yabba-Dabba Yuletide (extended)
| writer12 = Barbera, Hanna, Curtin
| length12 = 3:40
| total_length =
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Rockin' Rudolph – {{nobold|Deluxe PledgeMusic exclusive version (bonus tracks)}}
| total_length =
| title13 = Little Drummer Boy (instrumental)
| writer13 = Harry Simeone, K.K. Davis, Henry Onorati
| length13 =
| title14 = Deck the Halls (instrumental)
| writer14 = Traditional
| length14 =
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from AllMusic:{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/rockin-rudolph-mw0002874135/credits|title=Rockin' Rudolph - The Brian Setzer Orchestra Credits - AllMusic|publisher=All Media Network|work=AllMusic|accessdate=October 20, 2015}}
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Production
- Brian Setzer – arranger
- Peter Collins – producer
- Steve Gibson – producer
- Terry Christian – engineer, mixing
- Don Cobb – mastering
- Eric Conn – mastering
- Dave Darling – additional production
- Frank Comstock – arranger
- Mark Jones – arranger
- Dave Kaplan – executive producer
- Tim Messina – music director
- Jody Nardone – vocal arrangement
- Kristen Carranza – production coordination
- Joey Waterman – production coordination
- Tyler Sweet – guitar technician
- Derek Yaniger – cover art
- Scott Anderson – layout
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Musicians
- Brian Setzer – guitar, vocals
- Roy Agee – trombone
- Sean Billings – trumpet
- Ron Blake – trumpet
- Mike Briones – trombone
- Shannon Brown – vocals (background)
- Barry Green – trombone
- John Hatton – bass guitar
- Mike Haynes – trumpet
- Robbie Hioki – trombone
- Jamie Hovorka – trumpet
- Paul Leim – drums
- Sam Levine – saxophone
- Jeremy Levy – trombone
- Kerry Loeschen – trombone
- Tim Messina – saxophone
- Eric Morones – saxophone
- Jody Nardone – vocals (background)
- Steve Patrick – trumpet
- Charlie Peterson – saxophone
- Tony Pia – drums
- Steve Reid – trumpet
- Matt Rollings – piano
- Julie Setzer – vocals (background)
- Leslie Spencer – vocals (background)
- David Spicher – bass
- Jim Youngstrom – saxophone
- Matt Zebly – saxophone
{{col-end}}
Chart performance
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Chart performance for Rockin' Rudolph ! scope="col"| Chart (2015) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|192|artist=The Brian Setzer Orchestra|album=Rockin' Rudolph|rowheader=true|access-date=September 20, 2023}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardIndependent|9|artist=The Brian Setzer Orchestra|rowheader=true|access-date=November 24, 2015}} |
| scope="row"|US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=The Brian Setzer Orchestra|chart=Holiday Albums}}|title=The Brian Setzer Orchestra Chart history: Top Holiday Albums|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=November 24, 2015}}
|align="center"| 3 |
|---|
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Release history and formats for Rockin' Rudolph ! scope="col" | Region ! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Format(s) ! scope="col" | Label |
| scope="row" | United States
| October 16, 2015 | {{Flatlist | }} | Surfdog |
|---|
References
{{Reflist}}
{{The Brian Setzer Orchestra}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rockin' Rudolph}}
Category:The Brian Setzer Orchestra albums
Category:2015 Christmas albums
Category:Christmas albums by American artists
Category:Surfdog Records albums